Texas A&M Engineering News

Students work around the clock to design a more inclusive campus during the 2018 Diversity Hackathon

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 00:00:00 CST

With only 24 hours on the clock, students came together to design and develop ideas to help make the Texas A&M University campus more inclusive.

The 2018 Diversity Hackathon brought students from many disciplines at Texas A&M to the Langford Architecture Center on Feb. 2-3, where they worked overnight to help turn spaces on campus into more welcoming environments for all people.

Cecilia Giusti, associate dean for outreach and diversity in the College of Architecture and head of the Diversity Council, launched the Diversity Hackathon four years ago. The inaugural hackathon featured a partnership with the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and the College of Engineering continues to play an important role in the event with a majority of the participants being engineering students.

“For 24 hours they talk about what it means to be diverse, what is an inclusive approach, and how to talk better about inclusion and diversity,” Giusti said. “[And] they actually create or produce something. Even if they don’t win anything, the whole exercise is fantastic—it’s magic.”

One team of general engineering freshmen worked to develop a tool to help the visually impaired better navigate campus. Team members prototyped a device that could slip onto the back of a pair of glasses and connect to a phone, which could then use the campus Wi-Fi to pinpoint the wearer’s location. The device would then communicate information through vibrations against the bone in the back of the ear.

“It would notify you of different obstacles around campus and different buildings or streets so that a person who was visually impaired would be aware of their surroundings and know which way to go without needing to look at a map,” said Jaxon Tucker.

There were six challenges teams could choose from provided by different programs across campus. The College of Engineering asked students to focus on the Zachry Engineering Education Complex and how to make it more accessible for students with hearing, visual or physical impairments.

“It’s going to be a world-class, state-of-the-art building, and I was hoping that students might come up with some concepts to ensure that all of our students are welcome and can participate at the same level,” said Debra Dandridge, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station and engineering accessibility coordinator.

To help with the creation process, students had access to several resources, including 3-D printers and other tools provided by the College of Architecture. One team took up the challenge to create an open space for communication by developing an interactive screen to help people share concerns and ideas in a more accessible way.

“We’re going to have an interface for people to share their ideas through texts,” said junior computer science engineering student Muin Momin. “We have a phone number set up and people can text complaints or something they like about the space that they’re in, and that will display as a word cloud on the screen so everyone can see what’s going on and the owners of that space can get ideas on how to improve it.”

Being a part of the hackathon may also help students after graduation. Dr. J. Michael Moore, an instructional assistant professor in the computer science and engineering department, said industry is showing more interest in accessibility and expects graduates to be prepared to create these universally designed, accessible products.

“This hackathon is a fantastic opportunity for our students in engineering to not only try and do inventive ideas in a short period of time but also to be creative and innovative, and be ready and thinking that way, before they go out in industry,” Moore said.

Texas A&M Engineering and Alamo Colleges District co-enrollment program to begin offering classes fall 2018

Thu, 01 Feb 2018 00:00:00 CST

Texas A&M University, Chevron and Alamo Colleges District will enroll the first cohort of students for the Texas A&M-Chevron Engineering Academy at Alamo Colleges District in fall 2018. This innovative co-enrollment partnership was developed to address the state’s growing need for engineers. Qualified students will be admitted to the Texas A&M College of Engineering, complete the first two years of coursework at an Alamo Colleges District college and finish their engineering degrees in College Station, Texas. The program will begin accepting student applications March 1.

The Texas A&M-Chevron Engineering Academy at Alamo Colleges District allows students to remain close to home for their first two years while pursuing one of 19 majors within the College of Engineering at Texas A&M. This program is generously supported by Chevron.

“We are pleased to offer students in the Alamo Colleges District a unique pathway toward a first-rate degree from an engineering college ranked among the top 10 in the world,” said Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp. “Our goal is to attract the very best students to Texas A&M Engineering, even if circumstances require them to stay close to home for the first two years of college. These students will be Aggies in San Antonio from day one.”

“We are always eager to offer our students new opportunities for continuing their education once they graduate from one of the colleges of the Alamo Colleges District,” said Alamo Colleges District Chancellor Dr. Bruce Leslie. “Our latest partnership with Texas A&M University and Chevron will offer our students a pathway to a bachelor’s degree in a field with excellent job growth and high salaries, benefiting not only the students, but the state’s economy as well,” he added.

In Texas, the projected need for engineers in the workforce is 53,000 by 2024. To meet this need, universities and two-year colleges will need to work together to bridge the gap and attract and retain students who are interested in STEM fields. Engineering students in the Engineering Academy program enroll in math, science and core curriculum courses through Alamo Colleges District and have the unique opportunity to enroll in Texas A&M engineering courses taught by Texas A&M faculty at Northeast Lakeview College, part of Alamo Colleges District.

“Northeast Lakeview College is proud to be home for this program,” said Dr. Veronica Garcia, Northeast Lakeview College president. “This new program will help address the need for more programming in high-demand STEM fields and provide an opportunity for more students, in San Antonio and surrounding areas, to pursue engineering coursework.”

Chevron has donated $5 million to support Texas A&M-Chevron Engineering Academies across the state at Austin Community College; Houston Community College, Spring Branch in Houston; Texas Southmost College in Brownsville; El Centro and Richland Colleges in Dallas; and Alamo Colleges District in San Antonio.

“Chevron is committed to increasing access to, and the quality of, education around the world. We are proud to partner with Texas A&M on this important initiative to help ensure an educated and skilled workforce,” said Shariq Yosufzai, Chevron vice president of ombuds, diversity and inclusion and university and association relations.

“Our longstanding relationship with Texas A&M, through support of the Engineering Academy initiative, will help provide opportunities in the field of engineering for many underrepresented and first-generation college students,” Yosufzai said. “Partnering with Texas A&M, a top source of engineering hires for Chevron, to help provide opportunities in the field of engineering will support our efforts to help build the diverse workforce of tomorrow that will be required to meet the energy needs of the future."

Texas A&M Engineering Vice Chancellor and Dean Dr. M. Katherine Banks said the academies have the potential to reach beyond the typical pathways for access to a top-ranked engineering program.

“The academies, through our partnership with Chevron and the two-year colleges, provide new pathways to a first-rate engineering education,” Banks said. “Through this co-enrollment program, students can live at home for the first two years of college without postponing their participation in an engineering program that is highly regarded by employers across the country.”

For more information about how to apply and other details, visit /academies or email engineeringacademies@tamu.edu.

Greve recipient of 20 Twenties award by Aviation Week Network

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 00:00:00 CST

Christine Greve, a master’s student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University, has been selected as a recipient of the 2018 “Tomorrow’s Technology Leaders: The 20 Twenties” awards by Aviation Week Network.

Greve works in the Plasma Dynamics Modeling Laboratory, directed by Dr. Ken Hara, assistant professor in aerospace engineering, on developing full particle simulations of the discharge plasmas in Hall effect thrusters, a type of space propulsion device developed by NASA, the U.S. Air Force and industry.

The 20 Twenties awards recognize the next generation of talent within the aerospace community. During her undergraduate study at the University of Oklahoma, Greve performed an internship at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center with research engineer Dr. Kurt Polzin and was selected as an Astronaut Scholar by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation in 2016.

Greve will be honored during Aviation Week’s 61st Annual Laureates Awards on March 1 in Washington, D.C.

Coleman wins first place at American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics International Student Competition

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 00:00:00 CST

David Coleman, a graduate student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University, won first place in the Annual International Student Paper Competition at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Science and Technology Forum (SciTech) held Jan. 7. He won the graduate category for his paper titled “Understanding Unsteady Aerodynamics of Cycloidal Rotors in Hover at Ultra-low Reynolds Numbers.”

At SciTech 2018, Coleman and other regional winners from around the world presented in a final head-to-head competition, which was judged on research content and presentation quality by senior professionals.

Coleman conducts research in the Advanced Vertical Flight Laboratory under the guidance of assistant professor Dr. Moble Benedict. The focus of the lab’s work is on the development of new and novel unmanned aerial vehicles with advanced flight capabilities. Coleman’s dissertation research is focused on the design, development and modeling of a two-winged, hover-capable robotic hummingbird. A video of his robotic hummingbird in flight can be seen here. He is currently working on a novel control strategy for the robot that mimics hummingbird flight much more closely, which could potentially result in maneuverability and performance comparable to real hummingbirds.

Shape memory alloy research featured in Wired magazine

Fri, 19 Jan 2018 00:00:00 CST

Aircraft with shapeshifting wings may seem like the stuff of movies, but with the use of shape memory alloys (SMAs), it may be a reality in the near future. Dr. Darren Hartl, associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University, whose research is featured in Wired magazine, is part of a team working on using SMAs to shift parts of an aircraft in mid-flight.

Shape memory alloys would allow engineers to design an aircraft that could change in response to variables, such as temperature, humidity and barometric pressure. Because shockwaves behave differently in these variables, this would in effect help minimize the sonic boom that is created when these shockwaves come off an aircraft and combine together as they head toward the ground. Reduce the sonic boom and you just might see supersonic flight over land in the near future.

Read the entire Wired article here.

Military robots are getting smaller and more capable

Thu, 21 Dec 2017 00:00:00 CST

Dr. Moble Benedict's cyclocopter research was featured in "The Economist." You can read the entire story here.

Gakhar recipient of the Craig C. Brown Outstanding Engineering Student Award

Fri, 15 Dec 2017 00:00:00 CST

As an undergraduate student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University, Kanika Gakhar has immersed herself in research and engineering design projects. Due in part to her scholastic achievements and leadership roles, she received the Craig C. Brown Outstanding Engineering Student Award, the most prestigious honor bestowed upon a graduating senior in the College of Engineering.

“I am very grateful for being selected as a recipient of such a prestigious award,” said Gakhar. “Mr. Craig C. Brown is a truly inspiring role-model for young, aspiring engineers like me. Having served on the College of Engineering Advisory Council and Honors Board, and provided scholarships for numerous dedicated Aggies, he has made several contributions to the growth and success of Texas A&M. I was absolutely thrilled to hear about Mr. Brown's involvement in numerous student organizations like Ross Volunteers and Student Engineer’s Council during his time on campus.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my bizarre ideas with him and learning more about how he gives back and works towards ‘leaving something behind,’ “ said Gakhar. “Mr. Brown's inclination towards leadership in service and passion for excellence inspires me to continue his legacy by expanding my horizons and working on pioneering projects that can have a significant impact on the world.

While in high school, Gakhar chose to study on a full scholarship in Singapore, a country far away from her home in India. As a creative, passionate, and hard-working aerospace engineering senior, she has not only maintained her excellent grades, but also participated in various extra-curricular activities. “Thanks to the remarkable opportunities available at Texas A&M I was able to immerse myself in research and engage in numerous engineering design projects,” said Gakhar.

She wrote an undergraduate research thesis, and submitted and presented a conference paper for her research on a flapping-wing, hover-capable robotic hummingbird, working alongside Dr. Moble Benedict, associate professor in the department. She was also on the SAE Aero Design Team that won second place overall at the international radio-controlled aircraft design-build-fly competition this year.

Gakhar worked as a Boeing Flight Sciences and Product Development intern this past summer. While at Boeing, she designed acoustic linings to attenuate engine noise and submitted a patent for one of her designs. She served on the Boeing Intern Leadership Team and launched new programs to encourage professional development and community involvement among Boeing employees. “I am very passionate about using engineering as a tool to bring about societal change. Thanks to Mr. Brown's scholarship, I am one step closer to achieving this goal,” said Gakhar.

Aside from aerospace engineering-related activities, Gakhar is highly involved in several leadership initiatives on campus. As president of the Lambda Sigma Sophomore Honor Society, she worked on developing innovative projects to help underprivileged children. She used her international experience to formulate a curriculum based on global perspectives and inclusive leadership as director for the MSC Fall Leadership Conference.

As an undergraduate research ambassador and executive leader for the Council of Undergraduate Research in Engineering, she is working on providing students with guidance and access to opportunities in order to have rewarding undergraduate research experiences. Currently, she is working on launching an international online tutoring program as vice president of Sigma Gama Tau.

“By granting me the Outstanding Senior Engineer Award, Mr. Brown has not only lightened the financial burden on my family but also given me a helping hand to lay the foundation of my career,” Gakhar said. “More importantly, Mr. Brown's support and kind words of encouragement have given me strength to believe in myself and pursue my innovative ideas. His generosity inspires me to help others and support fellow engineers in whichever way possible. In the future, I hope that I too can give back to my community and help students accomplish their dreams.”

Gakhar plans to intern at SpaceX over the summer, as well as apply to graduate school to further her career.

The Craig C. Brown Outstanding Engineering Student Award was first presented in 1947 as the Engineering Faculty Senior Award. In 1996, the award was renamed to recognize Craig C. Brown for his vision to expand and enhance the program through a permanent endowment. Eligible students for the award are required to be engineering students of good standing and maintain an overall grade point ratio of 3.5. Winners are selected by Engineering Academic and Student Affairs after a nomination is confirmed by the student’s engineering department, where they are then evaluated on scholastic achievement, leadership and character. The award also comes with a $5,000 scholarship.

TEES researchers work with Siemens to advance electric aviation in the United States

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 00:00:00 CST

This fall, researchers from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University teamed up with Siemens to develop manned aircraft completely powered by electric propulsion systems.

Over the past year, Dr. Darren Hartl, assistant professor of aerospace engineering and Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) principal investigator for this project, has worked to build a relationship with Siemens Government Technologies toward providing engineering services dedicated to this important goal.

“From the first time that I heard what Siemens was trying to do, I was very excited about the challenges and potential. I believed that our department needed to be involved in the long term,” Hartl said.

To kick off the partnership and technical progress, TEES research engineer John Rohmer has been contracted by Siemens through the aerospace engineering department, and over the next year will be embedded into the Siemens eAircraft organization, integrating and flight testing electric propulsion systems in general aviation and military aircraft. Additionally, the group will be working towards the identification of commercially-viable applications for electric propulsion and collaborate with the Federal Aviation Administration on the development of appropriate regulations for general and commercial electric aviation. Rohmer is a graduate of the Texas A&M College of Engineering, completing his bachelor’s degree in 2013 and master’s degree in 2016, both in aerospace engineering. Rohmer’s graduate research focused on novel electro-thermo-mechanical actuators for commercial aircraft applications, so he was a natural fit for this new project.

Since 2010, Siemens has been working in Europe on the electrification of manned and unmanned aircraft, with breakthroughs in aerospace grade electric motors, drives and propulsion systems. As economics and regulations continue to push the aviation industry towards electrification, eAircraft’s goal is to be the market leader in electric and hybrid propulsion, system integration, service and condition-based monitoring. Along with their partners, Siemens has committed to proving the significant benefits of electric propulsion, including increased aerodynamic efficiency by distributed propulsion, reduced noise enabling more operational hours per day, reduced fuel consumption and reduced emissions.

Siemens’ approach to electrification has drawn from some of their best technologies, utilizing product lifecycle management (PLM) software and virtual twin concepts to design record breaking motors.

“We look forward to new opportunities to work with Siemens on this emerging technology from both the research and development sides,” Hartl said. “What a great time to be an aerospace engineer.”

Dunbar elected president of the Association of Space Explorers

Tue, 21 Nov 2017 00:00:00 CST

Texas A&M University aerospace engineering professor Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar was elected president of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE) International at the 30th annual ASE Congress in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 20. She is the first woman to be elected ASE president.

Dunbar, a TEES Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and director of the Institute for Engineering Education and Innovation (IEEI), flew five times on the Space Shuttle for 50 days in space, and previously was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

She also established the Aerospace Human Systems Laboratory at Texas A&M, which is dedicated to leading research on systems for ensuring the survival of humans in space or extreme environments, including new technologies for spacesuits and habitats. Specific topics include human systems modeling, multifunctional materials and partial gravity fluid physics.

ASE is the professional organization for more than 400 astronauts and cosmonauts from 37 different countries representing five major regions: the United States, Russia, Europe, Asia and “at large.” The five-day Congress, held in a different nation every year, conducts free access public sessions on several topics of human space exploration, including International Space Station research, lessons learned in spaceflight operations, technical advances in space systems, progress in planetary research and current national initiatives in space exploration. The fliers also reserve one day for visiting with schools, universities, companies and civic groups across the host country in what is called “Community Day.” The visits focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, as well as the inspiration for space exploration.

ASE was founded in 1985 by a small group of American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts and has since expanded to include all space fliers from Europe, Asia and other nations. The qualification for membership is one full orbit of the Earth in a spaceship. ASE International has a standing committee on Near Earth Objects (NEO) with observer status at the United Nations and is a member of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). At the 30th Congress, two additional ASE standing committees were established: orbital debris and exploration crew health. Dunbar is chair of the international committee on crew health.

The 2018 Congress will be held in Minsk, Belarus, and the 2019 Congress will be back in the United States in Houston Oct. 14-18. This will be only the fourth time it has been in the U.S. since 1985. Dunbar is the 2019 Congress chair. Capt. Dick Richards, retired astronaut and Boeing executive, is vice chair. IEEI is the academic sponsor for the 32nd Congress, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landings. Opening and closing events will be at Space Center Houston. IEEI will coordinate the statewide visits of astronauts to schools and universities on Oct. 16, 2019, and will host at least six of them on the College Station campus on Oct. 16, 2019. Additional astronauts will also visit other Texas A&M and Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station locations across the state.

Reference: http://www.space-explorers.org/

Photo captions for above pictures in order:

ASE attendees in Toulouse, Frace at Cite de la Space
Dunbar presiding over the ASE Opening Ceremonies
ASE astronauts Dr. Soichi Naguchi (JAXA) and Dr. Janet Kavandi (NASA) with French school children.
ASE Technical session on European Space Agency plans to build a "Moon Village."
ASE International Panel with ASE members Soichi Naguchi (Japan), Michel Tognini (France), Bonnie J. Dunbar (USA), Alexander Alexandrov (Russia) and Reinhold Ewald (Germany)

Engineering students and donors recognized at awards banquet

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 00:00:00 CST

Engineering students were honored and donors recognized at the Texas A&M University College of Engineering Student Awards banquet Oct. 26.

The Craig C. Brown Outstanding Senior Engineer Award is the most prestigious honor bestowed on a graduating senior in the College of Engineering. The award is based on outstanding scholastic achievement, leadership and character.

Established in 2012, the Outstanding Graduate Student Award recognizes one master’s student and one doctoral student who have demonstrated excellence above and beyond usual levels of achievement.

The Craig C. Brown Outstanding Senior Engineer Award winners

Willie D. Caraway

Huntsville, Alabama

Mechanical Engineering

Caraway has a strong love of learning and loves synergizing disparate knowledge to create new solutions. Being named a University Scholar provided him with the opportunity to regularly interact with other highly motivated individuals to sharpen their skills in analytical thinking and synthesizing knowledge. He also had the opportunity to perform research with Dr. Henry Everitt at the Army Material Research, Development and Engineering Center, and Dr. Patrick Shamberger in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Texas A&M. Caraway also participated in the Zachry Leadership Program, which helped him improve his leadership skills and business knowledge. He is also involved in many student organizations, including the Jordan Institute, Pi Tau Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi and the American Society of Engineers.

Kendal Ezell

Tomball, Texas

Biomedical Engineering

With the passion to help people with neurological diseases, Ezell has shown great promise to accomplish the goals she has set for herself. Through her undergraduate research in biomedical engineering and neuropsychology, involvement in extracurricular activities and coursework, she has excelled, maintaining a 4.0 GPA while in the engineering honors program. Not only has she represented Texas A&M in the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program, but she has also received Phi Kappa Phi’s Outstanding Junior Award and the Peter Chaplinsky Memorial Scholarship. Most recently Ezell participated in the National Institute of Health’s 2017 National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Biomedical Engineering Summer Internship. Through her research she hopes to serve as an example to women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and encourage them to break barriers.

Kanika Gakhar

Katy, Texas

Aerospace Engineering

Gakhar’s passion for science and engineering have defined her outstanding academic career at Texas A&M. She regularly searches for opportunities in which she can build upon and strengthen her leadership and creativity. With these skills, she has helped design autonomous vehicles and build radio controlled aircrafts with heavy lifting capabilities. Gakhar aspires to create the next generation of bioinspired flying vehicles. She has presented conference papers at the 2017 American Helicopter Society Forum and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics student conference. In various leadership roles, she advocates for undergraduate research by helping her fellow Aggies find research opportunities that interest them. As a University Fellow, she has launched a workshop-based project aimed to empower the underprivileged and H.U.B., an initiative to reform entrepreneurship on the Texas A&M campus.

Jonah Haefner

Roswell, New Mexico

Nuclear Engineering

Haefner is a dedicated and passionate leader in all aspects of his life. He is a member of the Corps of Cadets, and has spent the past year serving as first sergeant where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of 50 other cadets. He actively engages with faculty members and has worked in a thermal hydraulics laboratory for the past two years. Through the O.R. Simpson Honor Society, he helped freshman engineering students succeed in their first semesters at Texas A&M through mentorship and tutoring to prepare them for continued success. Over the last two summers, he split his time between shadowing naval officers on active duty warships and working at Los Alamos National Laboratory on projects for the National Nuclear Security Administration.

Carson Muscat

Seabrook, Texas

Petroleum Engineering

Muscat has a passion for engineering and a great enthusiasm for making a lasting impression on the local community and Texas A&M. He has revamped programs to help more than 3,500 engineering freshmen make informed decisions for their academic futures and aided in extending the reach to the Engineering Academies. He has served as an engineering student ambassador for three years and has talked to hundreds of prospective students about Texas A&M. Most recently, Muscat was the student leader for the Engineering Career Fair, the largest student-run fair in the nation. He has been awarded many academic honors, including the Dr. Dan Turner Engineering Leadership Award, the Academic Excellence Award, and being named a President’s Endowed Scholar and BP Student Scholar.

Dakota Plesa

Arlington, Texas

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Plesa is a first-generation college student who has made the most of his time at Texas A&M by not only focusing on academics, but also by forging lasting relationships with his fellow Aggies. He applied the skills he learned in the classroom to solving problems on campus, such as implementing a new organizational structure for the Memorial Student Center (MSC), and in international case competitions, such as at McGill University. Plesa was among the first non-business students to participate in the Mays Business Fellows Program, where he proved himself to be a highly effective member of his Fellows team and invested considerable time in developing relationships with his peers. He participated in the Jordan Institute, and served as vice president of programs and executive vice president of programs in the MSC.

Melissa Potts

Austin, Texas

Chemical Engineering

Potts attributes her success at Texas A&M to hard work. She balances membership in numerous activities and organizations with her studies. That dedication and persistence led her to success in Dr. Mark Holtzapple’s class— which at the time, she was the only freshman in the class. Through her determination and hard work, Potts was one of the few students who continued to work on a paper that would later be submitted to the Odebrecht Award for Sustainability. She continued working with Holtzapple the next year, spending about nine hours a week in the research lab on the MixAlco process, a technology that transforms waste biomass into fuels and industrial chemicals. Potts also shared her knowledge with her fellow Aggies, serving as a teaching assistant.

Kyle Wiggs

Weatherford, Texas

Mechanical Engineering

For Wiggs, engagement has been the key to his experience at Texas A&M. During his first year at Texas A&M, he was an active member in the Aggie Band, as well as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). He has spent the last two years of his college career in leadership. As first sergeant of the 0.R. Simpson Honor Society, he created new events, such as “Dinner with your Major,” where cadets were instructed to eat dinner with other cadets within their major to encourage engagement between students of the same departments. Within ASME and his Corps unit, he has served as a mentor to other students, helping them find leadership opportunities and experiences.

2017 College of Engineering Outstanding Graduate Student Award

Joshua Harris

M.S. Candidate

Aerospace Engineering

Harris has proven himself to be an outstanding scholar and researcher. He is a master’s student in aerospace engineering, and works in the Vehicle Systems & Control Laboratory at Texas A&M. His master’s research investigates a new theory and approach for intelligent control and integrated health management of complex systems, both manned and unmanned. Harris was awarded the 2017 Federal Aviation Administration PEGASAS General Aviation Center of Excellence Outstanding Student Researcher. He was also one of only 10 recipients of the National Defense Science Engineering Graduate Fellowships in 2014, in addition to the 2013 NASA Aeronautics Scholarship. Only 20 students nationally from all majors receive this NASA honor. Harris has authored or co-authored two conference papers and two journal papers.

Jonathan Gigax

Ph.D. Candidate

Nuclear Engineering

Gigax is a well-rounded scholar: intellectually curious, hardworking and supportive of his colleagues and fellow Aggies. Over the past five years, Gigax has published 26 journal papers, while maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average. He has made significant contributions in radiation materials science toward materials development for high-performance nuclear reactors. He established standard procedures in accelerator testing, which significantly influenced other labs. Due to his findings, other labs (including University of Michigan, University of Tennessee and University of Wisconsin in Madison) have changed their testing procedures to follow the Texas A&M method. Gigax has also made significant contributions in developing radiation tolerant materials having nanoscale features and inclusions, including nanograined materials, multilayered composite materials and nanoprecipitate alloys.

The College of Engineering also recognized the following newly endowed scholarships:

Angela and James Hambrick ’78 Endowed Scholarship in the College of Engineering

Carolyn and A. Damon Gowan ‘58 Endowed Scholarship

Dana and James R. Heinze ‘83 Scholarship Elsie and Vance Fairchild ’89 Endowed Scholarship

ExxonMobil Aggies Engineering Endowed Scholarship

Jimmie and Geoffrey Pope Endowed Scholarship

Jo and Mike Hunn ’59 Scholarship

Marilyn ’99 and Stewart ’99 Robinson Scholarship

Michelle ’88 and Todd Steudtner ’87 Scholarship

Richard W. Burr ’62 and Charity B. Burr Scholarship

Shah Smith & Associates Scholarship

Sue Nobles and Elmer Eldridge Goins Engineering Scholarship

Terri and Keith Hawkins ’79 Scholarship